Bible Studies

Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 20

by Clifford Tate 
08/24/16
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Paul Exhorts the Philippians to Work out what God has worked in Them Part 1

Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. KJV

The Apostle Paul had discovered during his own journey or walk of faith with our Lord Jesus Christ that there was a responsibility of every individual believer “in Christ” to act upon or to put into use their reliance on Jesus Christ. Paul wants them to not be vigilant concerning their faith “in Christ” only when he is in their presence, because now Paul finds himself imprisoned in Rome and he is certain that soon he will go to be with our Lord Jesus Christ forever in heaven as he has already declared to them (Philippians 1:21-23), but he wants to exhort and encourage them to be diligent about their faith “in Christ” and to never surrender to complacency, coldness, or callousness acting with the same principles, motives, and disposition found in our Lord Jesus Christ when He humbled Himself to become a Man and even further humbling Himself to die on the Cross for our sins, we are also to exert this same obedience in the effort to work out the salvation/new nature placed “in us” by God the Holy Spirit. Therefore, now understanding and believing that our Lord Jesus Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth should move these Philippian believers and we believers today into acting upon this authority of Christ as it is transmitted to us, Paul now exhorts them to, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

The English phrase work out is translated by one Greek word katergazomai which means to work fully or to toil as a task, occupation, etc., that is to perform, accomplish, or finish; to be engaged in or with; to commit. In other words, Paul’s exhortation to these Philippian believers and we believers today to “work-out” salvation is a clear declaration of human responsibility or free will in carrying out the on-going work of salvation. Paul is by no means telling these believers in Philippi to work for their salvation, but on the contrary to work out what God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit has already worked in them and in us today as he declared when he wrote these words at the very beginning of this letter, “And I am convinced {and} sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] {and} perfecting {and} bringing it to full completion in you.” (Philippians 1:6) (Amplified Bible). Paul was just echoing what the Prophets of old had likewise declared about YAHWEH long before Paul was born just as Isaiah said the same thing in this manner, “Lord, You will ordain peace (God’s favor and blessings, both temporal and spiritual) for us, for You have also wrought in us {and} for us all our works.” (Isaiah 26:12) (Amplified Bible).

Note: “We must never find ourselves believing the lie coming from the pit of hell that there resides in man something good in the eyes of God the Father, Paul discovered this truth in himself and wrote of it saying, ‘For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]’ (Romans 7:18) (Amplified Bible), instead we must yield to God the Holy Spirit who began this ‘good work’ ‘in us’ to help us work it out to completion.” The exhortation to do so in “fear and trembling” is not one of slavish terror of God the Father, for that has been removed forever from us as Paul declared with these words written to the Roman believers, “Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).” (Romans 5:1) (Amplified Bible).

However, we must be diligent and serious in our relationship with Christ seeking to work out of us the things given to us by Him that are well-pleasing to Him as Paul tells us what fruit He is the author of when he wrote this to the Galatian believers, “But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites {and} desires. If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]” (Galatians 5:22-25) (Amplified Bible). The attitude of heart declared by Solomon should be our attitude in our sojourn here on the earth when he wrote, “Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is the man who reverently {and} worshipfully fears [the Lord] at all times [regardless of circumstances], but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” (Proverbs 28:14) (Amplified Bible) also the attitude declared by the Apostle Peter in his first epistle when he said, “And if you call upon Him as [your] Father Who judges each one impartially according to what he does, [then] you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence [on the earth, whether long or short].” (1 Peter 1:17) (Amplified Bible).

My own Personal Note: “We are weak and inadequate in every area of our Christian life and only by the Word of God and the Power of the Holy Spirit to activate His Word can we work out the salvation freely given to us by God the Father through God the Son’s sacrifice for our sins as Paul again reminds us with these words written to the Corinthian believers, ‘Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments {or} to claim {or} count anything as coming from us, but our power {and} ability {and} sufficiency are from God.’” (2 Corinthians 3:5) (Amplified Bible).

“Whatever rest is provided by Christianity for the children of God, it is certainly never contemplated that it should supersede personal effort. And any rest which ministers to indifference is immoral and unreal - it makes parasites and not men. Just because God worketh in him, as the evidence and triumph of it, the true child of God works out his own salvation - works it out having really received it - not as a light thing, a superfluous labor, but with fear and trembling as a reasonable and indispensable service” (Drummond, “Natural Law in the Spiritual World,” p. 335).

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…